Happy (belated) Thanksgiving everyone! Before I get into everything that I've been up to, I want to publicly announce how excited I am for the holidays this year.
Usually, this time of year is fairly difficult for me. In the past few years, although things ended up with me not being alone, I still had difficulty not feeling anxious or slightly depressed. Anxious about where to go or even what to do and depressed because I didn't feel really included or I also felt like something was missing. I'm thankful for those who invited and hosted me in the past but I want to especially express my thankfulness for my amazing boyfriend, Alec and his family, the Butners and Lancasters. From the earliest moments of my relationship with Alec, he has been my logical voice of reason but also my patient and loving source of comfort. From the first moment that I met Alec's family, I have always felt welcomed and included. Although, we're all still navigating the crazy world of understanding and getting to know one another, I'm thankful that everything comes from a positive and caring source as opposed to other places.
1. Thanksgiving
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Usually, this time of year is fairly difficult for me. In the past few years, although things ended up with me not being alone, I still had difficulty not feeling anxious or slightly depressed. Anxious about where to go or even what to do and depressed because I didn't feel really included or I also felt like something was missing. I'm thankful for those who invited and hosted me in the past but I want to especially express my thankfulness for my amazing boyfriend, Alec and his family, the Butners and Lancasters. From the earliest moments of my relationship with Alec, he has been my logical voice of reason but also my patient and loving source of comfort. From the first moment that I met Alec's family, I have always felt welcomed and included. Although, we're all still navigating the crazy world of understanding and getting to know one another, I'm thankful that everything comes from a positive and caring source as opposed to other places.
1. Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving Day, Alec and I went to his Aunt's house. It was a fun, low-key day where I met and spent time with horses, ate delicious food, met great individuals and played a massive game of Monopoly.
It was also really sweet that after I said my good-bye's to Alec for the week, he used the above photo as his profile picture. It's the little things, y'all.
For Black Friday, I treated myself to a vintage Charlie McCarthy Ventriloquist Dummy (it is kinda creepy) that I found for a great price. I normally don't like ventriloquist puppets but I thought he would be the perfect new addition to my clown collection. I know, I know, he is not technically a clown or within the clown family but he is creepy, vintage and collectable. So are my clowns. Therefore, I thought the would go well together.
On Saturday, Alec, his family and I met up again to watch the Ohio State vs. Michigan State game. I can't remember if I said that Alec is from Ohio (or more like he identifies with Ohio) but he graduated from Ohio State so the Buckeye pride runs real deep.
2. Travel or Bust
One of the various things Alec and I have in common is a love and appreciation for adventure, discovery and travel! So far, we have travelled to DC, Ohio and Norfolk.
Alec and I (it was obviously my idea) visited the Athens Lunatic Asylum on the way back to Virginia. It is now an art museum (with the top two floors still in original condition) with free admission and very limited urban exploration potential. Although I couldn't expose it's secrets (I sometimes like to pretend that I'm the next Geraldo Rivera, on the hunt for my big expose), it was still a fun pit stop and I'm thankful that my honey bunches of oats didn't keep me on a time crunch.
Not much is known about the lives and treatment of patients of the former single major mental institution in Ohio. However, it was a perfect creepy spot to wish Autumn (the season) farewell.
This was from a little menagerie in the heart of Colombus' German Village.
Alec treated me to an Ohio State football game! Before the game, I met his old boss at the campus police department. That was a blast! The game was also really fun. I'm thankful for the opportunity to attend an actual football game because now I actually understand the sport and it's much more fun live!
Our first night there, Alec showed off his former stomping grounds. We walked around the Ohio State campus and then we ate dinner at Melt (a grilled cheese restaurant).
About a month before Ohio, Alec and I spent the weekend in Norfolk to see The Book Of Mormon Musical. It was a little funny but not for the LDS jokes. Although I'm not an active LDS member anymore, I didn't not find it funny to slightly hint at homosexuality within Mormon missionaries. Missions are a dedication and sacrifice that young LDS men and women use to focus on their faith while providing free services to individuals in the community and helping others discover their newfound or previous faith. Anyways, I did enjoy some of the outlandish songs and dialogue, therefore, it balanced out.
Right before the end of Summer, Alec and I visited DC for the day. We ate at Cosi (my favorite sandwich shop), enjoyed renaissance art (brought back some nostalgia for AP Euro) at the National Gallery of Art, and we soaked in some of the national monuments at night.
It was absolutely romantic to be the only couple walking hand in hand, down a path surrounded by a canopy of trees on the way to the Lincoln Memorial.
3. Autumn Adventures
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One Saturday we went on a little hike to collect some RVA rocks. It was a fun little adventure that reminded me of the nature center in Long Beach. Hopefully in a couple months, I can show that off to Alec!
Alec and I went pumpkin picking which was really fun! After we picked out a couple pumpkins, we carved them and attempted to make our own salted pumpkin seeds.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Alec! I love how it shows off how handsome he is yet it shows his sensitive side. I'm actually terrified of feeding animals but I enjoyed the view of him showing me how ;)
Anyways, that's all for now! I hope everyone enjoyed their start to the holiday season!
